The Nigerian government has rejected allegations by United States Senator Ted Cruz that authorities in Abuja are complicit in a campaign of genocide against Christians, dismissing his claims as “false, baseless and unsupported by evidence.”
Cruz, speaking to Fox News Digital, alleged that more than 52,000 Christians have been killed and over 20,000 churches and schools destroyed in Nigeria since 2009. He also announced a proposed law — the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act—seeking sanctions on officials accused of religious persecution.
But the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Wednesday, said the senator’s assertions were “misleading, exaggerated and not reflective of reality.”
“It’s false to claim that over 52,000 Christians have been killed or that 20,000 churches have been burned. Where did he get those numbers from? It’s absolutely absurd and unsupported by any credible evidence,” Idris said.
He added that “no Nigerian officials will willingly or deliberately side with violent extremists to target any religion,” insisting that such claims were “absolutely false.”
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, Idris said the country’s diversity had long been its strength. “Nigeria is a multi-faith country—Christians, Muslims, and even those who subscribe to neither. The government remains committed to protecting the rights of all.”
While acknowledging the persistence of violent extremism, Idris said both Christians and Muslims had suffered from the actions of terrorists and bandits. “It is wrong and misleading to claim there’s a deliberate plan to exterminate Christians,” he said.
However, in a nuanced intervention, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)—the country’s foremost Christian body—took a more measured stance, acknowledging that many Christian communities had suffered “severe attacks, loss of life, and destruction of places of worship.”
In a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN said, “Over the years, CAN and the wider Christian community have worked tirelessly to draw attention, both nationally and internationally, to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The association has engaged the International Criminal Court, global Christian networks, and government agencies in pursuit of justice and protection.”
While stopping short of endorsing Cruz’s genocide claim, CAN said the realities on the ground “are painful reminders of the urgent need for government and security agencies to act decisively to protect every citizen, regardless of region.”
It added: “Our concern remains that these cries for justice and protection are too often met with delay or denial. Nigeria’s healing will not come from denial or blame, but from courage — the courage to face our collective failures, to grieve together, and to rebuild trust within our communities.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind the federal government, condemning the proposed U.S. Senate legislation that seeks to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under U.S. religious freedom laws — a move that could pave the way for sanctions.
The bill, introduced in September as the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747), would compel the U.S. Secretary of State to list Nigeria among countries where religious persecution is deemed severe and systematic.
Presenting a motion of urgent national importance, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu argued that Nigeria’s Constitution “guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion,” and that successive governments “continue to take measures to protect all worshippers and prosecute offenders.”
He cautioned that Nigeria’s insecurity is “complex and multi-causal,” driven by insurgency, banditry, and communal violence affecting citizens “of all faiths.”
Lawmakers warned that “external legislative actions based on incomplete or decontextualised assessments” risked undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and straining its relations with the U.S.
Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere described Cruz’s bill as part of a “misinformation campaign bent on demarketing Nigeria,” while Katsina lawmaker Sada Soli called for a strong diplomatic response.
The House directed its committees on foreign affairs, security, and human rights to coordinate a formal diplomatic démarche to the U.S. Senate and engage in a joint fact-finding dialogue with American legislators.
For CAN, the way forward lies not in international rebuke but in national renewal. “Only through truth, justice, and shared accountability can our nation rise from its wounds and embrace a future of genuine peace,” Archbishop Okoh said.
